New initiative to raise math passing rates

By Melissa Caceres/News Director

A new administrative proposal may solve the problem of below average student passing rates in lower division math courses.

Through the Math Task Force comprised of more than 15 faculty members from FIU and Miami-Dade College, the initiative called Math Reform will restructure the approach taken by the University to teach college algebra by implementing computerized learning and peer tutoring. The program is set to begin in fall 2012.

“For years, student performance in lower level math courses at FIU has been below the State University System averages,” said Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Irma Becerra-Fernandez and math professor Enrique Villamor in their report to the FIU Faculty Senate on March 27.

The interdisciplinary task force, brought together by University Provost Douglas Wartzok, came to the conclusion that “college algebra should not be taught in the regular format any more.”

Data from the group’s proposal showed that University students struggle with passing college algebra, with only a third of students passing the first time.

More than 66 percent of the students end up repeating the class and having to take the course several times in order to pass.

“The department of mathematics has been trying actively throughout those years to improve those rates through different programs and methods,” said Villamor, in a presentation of the initiative, adding that passing rates for the Math Reform approach are at 50 percent.

During summer 2010, the University’s math department piloted three sections of college algebra using the learning model. The pilot involved students’ attending a lecture on a specific topic and then being required to practice the concepts presented in class at a computer lab. Students practiced on the computers for several hours a week, while receiving guidance and assistance by peer tutors.

Transfer students from Miami-Dade College are also targets for the program, according to Becerra-Fernadez.

“Because their college algebra is lighter than what we teach here, students that come from Miami-Dade to FIU have no chance to pass calculus,” said Becerra Fernandez, who has been working with the math department chair at MDC.

Through the initiative, placement in specific math courses for incoming freshmen and transfer students would be determined based on their performance on the ALEKS, the mandatory math placement test for all first-time students.

But, instead of completing the online exam at home as has been done in previous years, students would need to take the test during orientation in a proctored classroom.

The task force members agreed that several students may not be taking the exam themselves at home.

They mentioned in the report that “a parent called to complain about the questions on the exam, but she was not supposed to be the one taking the exam.”

“[Proctoring the exam at FIU] is going to make a big difference,” Villamor said.

Faculty Senate members showed support for the program during their meeting.

“A lot of us here in the Senate have thought that this kind of thing has been needed for a while,” said Arts & Sciences Senator Alan Gummerson, an economics professor. “It’s overdue but I’m glad we’re finally doing it.”

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